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Preston Julius Hope
Posted 1/3/08
Preston Julius Hope, 87 MILFORD - Deacon Preston Julius Hope of Milford departed this life Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007, in the Milford Center after a long illness. He was 87. Born Jan. 6, 1920, he was the …
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Preston Julius Hope
Posted
Preston Julius Hope, 87
MILFORD - Deacon Preston Julius Hope of Milford departed this life Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007, in the Milford Center after a long illness. He was 87.
Born Jan. 6, 1920, he was the son of the late Julius and Hallie Hope.
In his earlier years, he attended grade school in Horntown, Va.
At the age of 14, Preston lost his sight. God was with him; he was not handicapped. It was as though he had his own sight.
While his mother worked, he was the babysitter for his brothers and sisters.
Preston later attended a school for the blind in Richmond, Va.
He did crafts making men and women's belts and wallets, and learned to count money, read Braille and use a seeing-eye dog.
In 1958, Preston moved to Delaware with his sister, Evangelist Margaret Waters.
He later moved in with his sister, Missionary Violet Crapper, and family in Georgetown. There he accepted Christ in his life and began to work in the church in many offices.
Preston became a member of St. John Fire Baptized Holiness Church, Milford, under the leadership of the Rev. Nathaniel Fulton. He would oftentimes walk to church. Preston was a faithful member.
He was a praying and singing man. He was known for his deep, baritone voice - singing, clapping his hands and praising God.
Preston was a family man and loved his family and his nieces and nephews, especially Mary.
He handled many trials, tribulations and heartaches, but endured it all.
Preston loved to attend the Easter Seals at Georgetown and the Slaughter Neck Cheer Center. He also enjoyed attending functions for the blind.
Later, Preston had a stroke and was unable to reside at home. He then moved to the Milford Center and resided there until God called him home. While living there, he continued to praise God in his singing, though at times it might have annoyed some, yet others enjoyed it and sang along with him.
He is now singing and praising God up in Heaven. Down here he was only rehearsing.
Preston will be missed by all his family.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Wilson, Kendell and Willis Hope; and a sister, Missionary Violet Crapper.
He is survived by three sisters, Mary Townsend and her husband Elijah of Horntown, Julia Dickerson and her husband Thomas of Frederica and Evangelist Margaret Waters of Lincoln; two sisters-in-law, Madeline Hope of Horntown and Josephine Hope of Pocomoke, Md.; one brother-in-law, Robert Crapper of Lincoln; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the Bennie Smith Funeral Home, 274 N. Rehoboth Blvd., Milford.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in the Welcome Full Gospel Church, Lincoln.
Interment will be in the Milford Community Cemetery.
MILFORD - Deacon Preston Julius Hope of Milford departed this life Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007, in the Milford Center after a long illness. He was 87.
Born Jan. 6, 1920, he was the son of the late Julius and Hallie Hope.
In his earlier years, he attended grade school in Horntown, Va.
At the age of 14, Preston lost his sight. God was with him; he was not handicapped. It was as though he had his own sight.
While his mother worked, he was the babysitter for his brothers and sisters.
Preston later attended a school for the blind in Richmond, Va.
He did crafts making men and women's belts and wallets, and learned to count money, read Braille and use a seeing-eye dog.
In 1958, Preston moved to Delaware with his sister, Evangelist Margaret Waters.
He later moved in with his sister, Missionary Violet Crapper, and family in Georgetown. There he accepted Christ in his life and began to work in the church in many offices.
Preston became a member of St. John Fire Baptized Holiness Church, Milford, under the leadership of the Rev. Nathaniel Fulton. He would oftentimes walk to church. Preston was a faithful member.
He was a praying and singing man. He was known for his deep, baritone voice - singing, clapping his hands and praising God.
Preston was a family man and loved his family and his nieces and nephews, especially Mary.
He handled many trials, tribulations and heartaches, but endured it all.
Preston loved to attend the Easter Seals at Georgetown and the Slaughter Neck Cheer Center. He also enjoyed attending functions for the blind.
Later, Preston had a stroke and was unable to reside at home. He then moved to the Milford Center and resided there until God called him home. While living there, he continued to praise God in his singing, though at times it might have annoyed some, yet others enjoyed it and sang along with him.
He is now singing and praising God up in Heaven. Down here he was only rehearsing.
Preston will be missed by all his family.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Wilson, Kendell and Willis Hope; and a sister, Missionary Violet Crapper.
He is survived by three sisters, Mary Townsend and her husband Elijah of Horntown, Julia Dickerson and her husband Thomas of Frederica and Evangelist Margaret Waters of Lincoln; two sisters-in-law, Madeline Hope of Horntown and Josephine Hope of Pocomoke, Md.; one brother-in-law, Robert Crapper of Lincoln; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the Bennie Smith Funeral Home, 274 N. Rehoboth Blvd., Milford.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in the Welcome Full Gospel Church, Lincoln.
Interment will be in the Milford Community Cemetery.
